installing a strut tower brace in a fox vert?

Hitman84 · 07-15-2008, 01:22 PM

Hey guys, i just picked up a strut tower brace in an attempt to stiffen the car up a bit. the problem is that i bought a "like new" brace that came with no hardware or instructions.

i am sure i can figure it out, but as apposed to just drilling holes in the car i thought i would bounce it off of some of you first. I assume i can use standard stainless grade 8 hardware, but is there anything else that is preffered?

thanks for any help, plus if any of you have one installed in your convertibles, could you shoot me a pic so i can have a refference?

**88GT** · 07-15-2008, 02:36 PM

I thought they bolted on with the existing strut bolts

Hitman84 · 07-15-2008, 02:40 PM

They may, i am not sure thats why i am asking. i think i do have to drill holes in the firewall though. i have not seen one installed in person so i am not sure how they bolt up.

humbleLX · 07-15-2008, 05:34 PM

best thing to do for ur application (STB's vary) is to lay it in the engine bay and mock it up. u will be able to tell if u need to clearance anything or just drill holes and bolt it in. grade 8 hardware will do the trick. after u drill the holes hit them with some POR15 or any good rust preventative. also don't forget to use washers.

after this, get a panhard bar and a 4 pt. roll bar and that vert will be one solid feeling fox.

2k4mk1 · 07-15-2008, 06:05 PM

You have to drill the firewall bolts. The rest is existing bolt holes.
As above grade8 washers and some rust prevention will get r done.

Hitman84 · 07-16-2008, 08:26 AM

Thanks, i am trying to do as much as i can without putting in a roll cage. i have a set of full length sub-frame connectors that i need to have someone weld up for me. i have heard horror stories about letting anybody with a welding rig do sfc's, so i am trying to find someone with some fox body sfc experience in the area to weld mine in for a fair price. i also have a drive shaft loop that should help stiffen up things a little.

After this i am going to start looking into getting her painted.

**88GT** · 07-16-2008, 12:43 PM

I dont think a DS loop will stiffen it up much, but the SFC's will. I welded mine in no problem. I even made them. Total cost was only about $30 and a few hours work.

Hitman84 · 07-16-2008, 01:00 PM

i already have my SFC's, but you are too far away for me to bring my car to you, and i have no welding experience. as far as the DS loop is concerned, it is one of those things that is better safe than sorry, and every little bit helps.

My buddy took his car to a muffler shop to have his SFC's welded in and they burnt holes through his sub frames, so i am leary of the "average joe welder" working on my car.

timpryor · 07-16-2008, 01:21 PM

Houston has a TON of shops, try Stricy performance they are a sponsor here

Hitman84 · 07-18-2008, 09:42 AM

Well, I had the chance to mock up the strut tower brace last night. There were no holes exsisting in the strut towers or fire wall for the hardware. Here is a crappy pic of what the mock up looked like.

Aerocoupe · 07-18-2008, 12:01 PM

Looks like you will have to drill the strut towers and the firewall. I would strongly suggest you make a backing plate for the bolts going through the firewall. Drill the holes through the firewall and then put a piece of 1/4" plate behind the firewall and mark the holes and drill it out. This will keep it from cracking out tearing. That is the weak part with strut tower braces of this design. I have the MM strut tower brace and it bolts into the existing holes on the pinch point of the firewall which appears to be the best place to install one without mods. I am sure others may have a better solution to the 1/4" plate but it has worked on a couple of cars here locally.

Darren

Hitman84 · 07-18-2008, 12:52 PM

I have some 5/16-18 hardware that I plan to use to bolt it in place, and I have a plate of 3/16 anodized alluminum that I was planning on using for the backing plate at the firewall. If i had to pay full price for the STB I would have got the MM brace, but I got too good of a deal on this brace to pass it up. Would fender washers work for the strut tower bolts?

Thanks for the help.

Aerocoupe · 07-18-2008, 06:42 PM

The MM brace I have on my car came with standard Grd 8 hardware, no fender washers. You will understand when you drill the holes in the strut towers.

Darren

07-15-2008, 01:22 PM	#1
Hitman84 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Galveston County Posts: 98 Trader Rating: (1)	installing a strut tower brace in a fox vert? Hey guys, i just picked up a strut tower brace in an attempt to stiffen the car up a bit. the problem is that i bought a "like new" brace that came with no hardware or instructions. i am sure i can figure it out, but as apposed to just drilling holes in the car i thought i would bounce it off of some of you first. I assume i can use standard stainless grade 8 hardware, but is there anything else that is preffered? thanks for any help, plus if any of you have one installed in your convertibles, could you shoot me a pic so i can have a refference? __________________ '84 fox convertible. E7 roller block .030 over with Hyper. pistons and stock stroke for now. E7 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, holley 4777, comp cams magnum 290 cam and springs, and complete MSD ignition. MAC equal length shorty headers to BBK O/R X-pipe to dual chamber flows. Electric fan conversion. '92 silver ponys. Just added, UPR non adjustable upper and lower control arms, Eiback Pro drop springs, MGW short throw shifter, billet overflow tank, and a few other billet accessories.

07-15-2008, 02:36 PM	#2
88GT LSS Sponsor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Antonio Posts: 379 Trader Rating: (2)	I thought they bolted on with the existing strut bolts __________________ The best way to get ahold of me is by calling 210-379-0279

07-15-2008, 02:40 PM	#3
Hitman84 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Galveston County Posts: 98 Trader Rating: (1)	They may, i am not sure thats why i am asking. i think i do have to drill holes in the firewall though. i have not seen one installed in person so i am not sure how they bolt up. __________________ '84 fox convertible. E7 roller block .030 over with Hyper. pistons and stock stroke for now. E7 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, holley 4777, comp cams magnum 290 cam and springs, and complete MSD ignition. MAC equal length shorty headers to BBK O/R X-pipe to dual chamber flows. Electric fan conversion. '92 silver ponys. Just added, UPR non adjustable upper and lower control arms, Eiback Pro drop springs, MGW short throw shifter, billet overflow tank, and a few other billet accessories.

07-15-2008, 05:34 PM	#4
humbleLX Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 4 Trader Rating: (0)	best thing to do for ur application (STB's vary) is to lay it in the engine bay and mock it up. u will be able to tell if u need to clearance anything or just drill holes and bolt it in. grade 8 hardware will do the trick. after u drill the holes hit them with some POR15 or any good rust preventative. also don't forget to use washers. after this, get a panhard bar and a 4 pt. roll bar and that vert will be one solid feeling fox. __________________ '89 LX hatch: FRPP GT-40 crate, GT40X alum heads, GT40 intake, e-cam, 1.7RR, 42#, pmas 3" flotube, walbro GSS340 255lph, Procharger 12 rib w/intercooler 10psi (right now), PMS IV w/3 bar map sensor, full msd ignition, mac unequal shorties, bbk o/r X, 2 chamber flows with SS tips, ram hdx clutch, FRPP fywheel, cobra brakes DD black bullitts, too much more... Future Mods: 347 boss block, g-force T-5 internals, new clutch, 31 spline axles and dif, repaint stock Adobe paint, 315/35/17 rear. panhard, torque arm, steeda u/lca's.

07-15-2008, 06:05 PM	#5
2k4mk1 My name is ED,My mom calls me special,I dont know why? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: SanAntonio Posts: 6,230 Trader Rating: (2)	You have to drill the firewall bolts. The rest is existing bolt holes. As above grade8 washers and some rust prevention will get r done. __________________ 04 Oxford White MACH1,5 SPD with IUP,K&NAircharger Borla Stingers,SLP Catted X pipe,Tri-ax,SCT Flashtune,Max Mtr Spt 4 bolt adj C/C plates, Drilled/Slotted rotors all 4 corners 281 rwhp on Mustang Dyno,306 rwhp on a Dynojet 94 Black Lightning Daily Driver&85GT FACH1 Project under construction

07-16-2008, 08:26 AM	#6
Hitman84 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Galveston County Posts: 98 Trader Rating: (1)	Thanks, i am trying to do as much as i can without putting in a roll cage. i have a set of full length sub-frame connectors that i need to have someone weld up for me. i have heard horror stories about letting anybody with a welding rig do sfc's, so i am trying to find someone with some fox body sfc experience in the area to weld mine in for a fair price. i also have a drive shaft loop that should help stiffen up things a little. After this i am going to start looking into getting her painted. __________________ '84 fox convertible. E7 roller block .030 over with Hyper. pistons and stock stroke for now. E7 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, holley 4777, comp cams magnum 290 cam and springs, and complete MSD ignition. MAC equal length shorty headers to BBK O/R X-pipe to dual chamber flows. Electric fan conversion. '92 silver ponys. Just added, UPR non adjustable upper and lower control arms, Eiback Pro drop springs, MGW short throw shifter, billet overflow tank, and a few other billet accessories.

07-16-2008, 12:43 PM	#7
88GT LSS Sponsor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Antonio Posts: 379 Trader Rating: (2)	I dont think a DS loop will stiffen it up much, but the SFC's will. I welded mine in no problem. I even made them. Total cost was only about $30 and a few hours work. __________________ The best way to get ahold of me is by calling 210-379-0279

07-16-2008, 01:00 PM	#8
Hitman84 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Galveston County Posts: 98 Trader Rating: (1)	i already have my SFC's, but you are too far away for me to bring my car to you, and i have no welding experience. as far as the DS loop is concerned, it is one of those things that is better safe than sorry, and every little bit helps. My buddy took his car to a muffler shop to have his SFC's welded in and they burnt holes through his sub frames, so i am leary of the "average joe welder" working on my car. __________________ '84 fox convertible. E7 roller block .030 over with Hyper. pistons and stock stroke for now. E7 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, holley 4777, comp cams magnum 290 cam and springs, and complete MSD ignition. MAC equal length shorty headers to BBK O/R X-pipe to dual chamber flows. Electric fan conversion. '92 silver ponys. Just added, UPR non adjustable upper and lower control arms, Eiback Pro drop springs, MGW short throw shifter, billet overflow tank, and a few other billet accessories.

07-18-2008, 09:42 AM	#10
Hitman84 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Galveston County Posts: 98 Trader Rating: (1)	Well, I had the chance to mock up the strut tower brace last night. There were no holes exsisting in the strut towers or fire wall for the hardware. Here is a crappy pic of what the mock up looked like. Attached Thumbnails __________________ '84 fox convertible. E7 roller block .030 over with Hyper. pistons and stock stroke for now. E7 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, holley 4777, comp cams magnum 290 cam and springs, and complete MSD ignition. MAC equal length shorty headers to BBK O/R X-pipe to dual chamber flows. Electric fan conversion. '92 silver ponys. Just added, UPR non adjustable upper and lower control arms, Eiback Pro drop springs, MGW short throw shifter, billet overflow tank, and a few other billet accessories.

07-18-2008, 12:01 PM	#11
Aerocoupe UT Sucks Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Longview, TX Posts: 192 Trader Rating: (0)	Looks like you will have to drill the strut towers and the firewall. I would strongly suggest you make a backing plate for the bolts going through the firewall. Drill the holes through the firewall and then put a piece of 1/4" plate behind the firewall and mark the holes and drill it out. This will keep it from cracking out tearing. That is the weak part with strut tower braces of this design. I have the MM strut tower brace and it bolts into the existing holes on the pinch point of the firewall which appears to be the best place to install one without mods. I am sure others may have a better solution to the 1/4" plate but it has worked on a couple of cars here locally. Darren __________________ '83 5.8L TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle '93 5.0L Mustang coupe that beat your mom's LTD

07-18-2008, 12:52 PM	#12
Hitman84 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Galveston County Posts: 98 Trader Rating: (1)	I have some 5/16-18 hardware that I plan to use to bolt it in place, and I have a plate of 3/16 anodized alluminum that I was planning on using for the backing plate at the firewall. If i had to pay full price for the STB I would have got the MM brace, but I got too good of a deal on this brace to pass it up. Would fender washers work for the strut tower bolts? Thanks for the help. __________________ '84 fox convertible. E7 roller block .030 over with Hyper. pistons and stock stroke for now. E7 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, holley 4777, comp cams magnum 290 cam and springs, and complete MSD ignition. MAC equal length shorty headers to BBK O/R X-pipe to dual chamber flows. Electric fan conversion. '92 silver ponys. Just added, UPR non adjustable upper and lower control arms, Eiback Pro drop springs, MGW short throw shifter, billet overflow tank, and a few other billet accessories.

07-18-2008, 06:42 PM	#13
Aerocoupe UT Sucks Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Longview, TX Posts: 192 Trader Rating: (0)	The MM brace I have on my car came with standard Grd 8 hardware, no fender washers. You will understand when you drill the holes in the strut towers. Darren __________________ '83 5.8L TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle '93 5.0L Mustang coupe that beat your mom's LTD

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